Countermeasures against Organized Crime Groups (Boryokudan) in Japan. Yuko Utsumi Police Policy Research Center, National Police Agency

Transcription

1 Countermeasures against Organized Crime Groups (Boryokudan) in Japan Yuko Utsumi Police Policy Research Center, National Police Agency

2 Outline of the presentation 1. What is Boryokudan? 2. Specific Countermeasures (1) Crackdown on Boryokudan Crimes (2) Development and Enforcement of the Anti- Organized Crime Law (3) Activities to Eliminate the Boryokudan from Society with Cooperation by Other Administrative Bodies and Community Residents 3. Recent Moves and Future Challenges

3 1. What is Boryokudan?

4 Copyright Protection Copyright Protection YAKUZA GOKUDOU Bouryokudan

5 Roots of the Boryokudan Bakuto (illegal gambling providers) Tekiya (peddlers at local festivals) Gurentai (group of juvenile delinquents repeatedly committing illegal acts in downtown) Dices for illegal gambling The boryokudan and mafia have different backgrounds

6

7 暴力団 Violence Group Boryokudan members call themselves ninkyo, gokudo, or yakuza (meaning a person who helps the weak and opposes the strong and even sacrifices his life for justice and faces off against public authority); however, in reality they are nothing more than potential crime syndicates resorting to violence. The term "boryokudan, which directly represents their real identity, prevents them from being falsely glorified and boosts public momentum toward eliminating them from society.

8 Quaternary organization Tertiary organization Secondary organization Primary organization Organizational Structure of the Boryokudan Kyodaibun (lit. brothers) Same person Tribute money & membership fees

9 Major Boryokudan Groups Yamaguchi-gumi Sumiyoshi-kai Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi Inagawa-kai Kudo-kai Others 26% Inagawakai 14% Sumiyoshikai 17% Yamaguchi -gumi 43% Approx. 10,300 members Approx. 5,800 members Approx. 5,100 members Approx. 4,100 members Approx. 690 members (As of the end of 2017) Divided into 3 groups As of March 2018 Rokudaime(6th) Yamaguchi-gumi Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi Ninkyou Yamaguchi-gumi(Approx. 430 members) Yamaguchi-gumi Sumiyoshi-kai Inagawa-kai Others

10 Examples of Illegal Fund Procurement Activities Gambling Ex.) Running a private casino / Operating professional sports gambling Extortion Ex.) Complaining about small things and demanding a large amount of money with threats of violence Get away soon!!! Oh no!!! Sales of illegal drugs Ex.) Smuggling stimulant drugs from foreign crime groups and processing them for domestic sales Stimulant drug

11 2. Specific Countermeasures

12 (1) Crackdown on Boryokudan Crimes - Illegal Fund Procurement Activities - Gambling, extortion, sales of illegal drugs (stimulant drug) Especially, most stimulant drugs are smuggled from other countries. (Strong connection with foreign crime groups) Diversification and sophistication of fund procurement activities Coercive pressure on private companies and administrative bodies to pay money or claim expediency Engagement in the industries of construction, restaurant business, etc., with their identity concealed (business operation using collective violence) Fraudulent or malicious use of the public assistance benefits systems Specialized fraud (telephone scam to defraud money without face-to-face contact) Thorough crackdown on illegal fund procurement activities (Active enforcement of general criminal laws and ordinances and the Anti-Organized Crime Law) Damage to boryokudan s funds through tax laws

13 (1) Crackdown on Boryokudan Crimes - Attacks and Strife that Involve Ordinary Citizens - Threats and retaliation against companies and individuals that conduct unsatisfactory actions for the boryokudan Ex.) A grenade was thrown into a place linked to an organization that had been promoting anti-violence campaign (2003) Active crackdown on strife between boryokudan groups Ex.) A boryokudan member shot a hospitalized ordinary person to death, mistaking the patient for his warring boryokudan related person (2007) <Outline of police responses> Thorough crackdown Enforcement of the Anti-Organized Crime Law Strengthened security activities

14 (2) Development and Enforcement of the Anti-Organized Crime Law - Outline of the Law, etc. - <Background to the enactment> Enacted in 1991 Response to gray-area fund procurement activities not covered by general criminal laws and ordinances <Definition of boryokudan making it possible to control them accurately> An organization that is likely to encourage its members to collectively or regularly commit violent illegal acts, etc. (24 groups designated as boryokudan as of June, 2018) Acts of demanding resorting to violence by a member of a designated boryokudan are illegalized as violent act of demanding I can t Buy these Ex.) A group member shows a company or individual a business card Books!!! of boryokudan and demands money or claims expediency. The Anti-Organized Crime Law also stipulates provisions regarding obligations and responsibilities of group leaders, etc. (e.g., liability for damages resulting from fund procurement activities by his members including those of lower families). Five revisions have been made to the Law to make it more effective arms.

15 (3) Activities to Eliminate the Boryokudan from Society with Cooperation by Other Administrative Bodies and Community Residents Activities by central and local governments Eliminate boryokudan-related companies from public works projects, etc. Elimination of the boryokudan from various business operations and transactions Eliminate the boryokudan from various industries, such as moneylending and construction. Activities by community residents, etc. Support elimination of boryokudan offices from community The Organized Crime Exclusion Ordinance Established in all prefectures during the period between 2009 and 2011 to eliminate the boryokudan with cooperation by local governments, community residents, business operators, and other entities. Also, contributing to the atmosphere to eliminate them from society. Social rehabilitation of boryokudan members Assist members in leaving groups and seeking jobs.

16 3. Recent Moves and Future Challenges

17 ,000 persons Number of Boryokudan Members and Arrested Members 34,500 persons 31,257 persons 17,737 persons Members Members Arrested There is a decline in the number of boryokudan members and arrested members, compared to 1991 when the Anti-Organized Crime Law was enacted.

18 <Boryokudan s Activities that Become Dormant> Problems include Quasi group members (persons under the control of the boryokudan who are likely to commit violent illegal acts using their connection with the boryokudan) Symbionts (persons who provide benefits to boryokudan groups and seek profit increase by exploiting boryokudan s influence, information collecting ability, and financial power)

19 <The Yamaguchi-gumi vs. the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi> Broke away in August 2015 Several incidents involving firearms occurred <Moves of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi and the Ninkyo Yamaguchi-gumi> In April 2017, some groups affiliated with the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi formed a new group Ninkyo Dantai Yamaguchi-gumi (later, renamed Ninkyo Yamaguchi-gumi) An incident that the Ninkyo Yamaguchi-gumi was attacked occurred Intensive crackdown to undermine boryokudan groups Thorough security activities for public safety

20 Thank you for your kind attention. Yuko Utsumi Police Policy Research Center, National Police Agency of Japan